As the football season winds down, the transfer season is just about to kick off and I thought I’d get a jump on the competition (the English/Spanish/Italian press) and name my top 10 potential signing stories. These are not my top 10 potential signings because as everyone knows, I have a horrible eye for talent.These are the top 10 potential signing stories: the 10 players, who have not been linked but are most likely to be linked to Arsenal by the press over the next three months. I picked these names using the tried and true journalism method called “make shiat up.”

10. Simone Perrotta — Roma, box-to-box midfielder. 31 year old midfielder for Roma, look for the press to play up the fact that he’s “experienced” and that he was born in England, even though he plays for the Italian national team. Also look for Platini’s Blatter to explode about how this would/would not qualify him for the 6+5 rule. Doesn’t sign for Arsenal because he’s Italian and no one from Italy wants to play in England.

9. Chiellini — Juve, center-back. Chiellini is a 24 year old, 6’1″ center back who currently plays for Juventus and has been capped by Italy 18 times. The press will play up his youth. Doesn’t sign for Arsenal because Juve offer him a better contract and they just fired their coach.

7. Carlos Machena — Valencia, center-back. One of many Valencia players that the press will link to Arsenal, they absolutely love linking Valencia players because of the supposed fire sale that’s going to happen any moment… now… any moment… Also, this player is “versatile” and the press love linking “versatile” players to Arsenal. Doesn’t sign for Arsenal because Valencia want £70m.

6. Daniel Agger — Liverpool, center-back. I know this is a shock inclusion here but given the sheer number of articles linking Agger out of Liverpool, plus his experience in England, his youth, and his height, I think this is going to be an Arsenal transfer story irregardless the fact he just signed a new contract. Doesn’t sign for Arsenal because several of their back line is leaving and he will get a lot of PT this year.

5. Hitzlsperger — Stuttgart, midfielder. Played for Villa in the past, currently in the national team, left footed, tall, German, speaks English. Pick any combination of things above to link him to Arsenal. Doesn’t sign for Arsenal becuse the French hate ze Germans.

4. Phil Jagielka — Everton, center-back. He’s been linked to the club before and a lot of Gooners want him. Plus he’s English. Doesn’t sign for Arsenal because the English hate the French nearly as much as they hate ze Germans.

3. Rio Mavuba — Lille, defensive midfielder. This is actually the kind of player Arsene would have bought in the past and if Mavuba was 16 he would buy him today! Unfortunately, he 25, only 5’7″ and only been called up for France 6 times, which means he’s probably not ever going to be a world class holding midfielder. Which means Arsene will probably buy him!

2. Jérémy Toulalan — Lyon, defensive midfielder. 25 year old player who has had a good season with Lyon, good work rate, good passer, good tackler. Look for the press to play up his French-ness, then call him “the next Makalele” and finish off with the whole “Arsenal need a defensive midfielder” cliche. Doesn’t sign for Aresenal because OL wants too much for him.

1. Raul Albiol — Valencia, center back. Ok, so check this guy out, he’s tall, he’s 23, he plays for Spain, he is versatile and he’s been linked to the club before, and even my readers have targeted him. This is a shoo-in for transfer story of the season. He plays for Valencia so expect the whole “Valencia fire sale” angle. Doesn’t sign for Arsenal because he might actually improve the squad immediately.

I will be looking closer to home with Sebastien Bassong will be linked with Arsenal by June. He is French after all and Newcastle is relegation bound. He won’t be cheap though with the Toon owner trying to curb his losses. He will definitely try to milk the transfer window.

I will be looking closer to home with Sebastien Bassong being linked with Arsenal by June. He is French after all and Newcastle is relegation bound. He won’t be cheap though with the Toon owner trying to curb his losses. He will definitely try to milk the transfer window.

Steven Taylor of Newcastle.. He is young
English and has premier league experience.
His input into the England u21’s is amazing,
Captaining the team to the semi finals of the
European champions losing to holland on penelties
Playing the last minutes and scoring a penalty
With a broken foot!
He is under acheiving at Newcastle and needs to be
Put behind a hard working midfield.
Won’t join cos he is English, will end up wasting
His career at spurs.

how can u include jagielka???
i think: “If Arsenal sign Steven Taylor I will fly to London and punch Arsene Wenger in the balls.” also applies to jagielka
not good enough for a top4 club imo
funny article tho :)

Hahaha @ Steven Taylor comment. I watched Newcastle and their team is terrible – even Bassong. And Jagielka has been one of the best defenders of this season Davi – you must not be watching Everton games enough.

Raul Albiol has a decent chance at leaving because Valencia are pretty much out of CL after Aguerro dove his way to an Atletico Madrid penalty on the weekend.

All Italians are terrible – OK I just don’t like them in general too much but they’re not leaving Serie A, they like being in a mediocre league.

I’ve called Toulalan and Cana’s name till my throat hurts and with Lyon winning on the weekend, they have a decent chance at a CL spot so Lyon possibly won’t have a Europa league season but with Benzema leaving that club and the manager merry-go-round sine Le Guen left, it could start to deteriorate so maybe Toulalan will wnt to get out before his stock drops? Cana already has said he could explore options. If we get someone from Lille it’s probably Cayabe – he’s decent but still a project and not as much experience as the aforementioned.

I always liked Hitzelsperger and I thought it was silly of Aston Villa to let him go – he’s definitely one of the better players for Stuttgart. We had Lemon so we don’t hate Germans……….too much.

I like Agger but I don’t see him as being the player we need – he’s far too adventurous for me and requires a pure defender alongside him. Toure likes to wander forward and we cannot have both centre backs waltzing up to attack.

I’ve given CM some thought and came up and thought about Scott Brown from Celtic (arguably the best young player in the SPL), he’s also young which Wenger likes and has a couple of SPL seasons to his name. With Ade looking like he’s Milan bound we could turn that money around for a good striker and I still like Edin Dzeko or Gourcuff. Magath leaving Wolfsburg will tear that team apart and Bordeaux just cannot afford to buy Gourcuff and Milan don’t look like they care about him anymore.

Sakho for defense still looks possible since Le Guen is probably leaving PSG and they failed to get into CL and are barely in a Europa league spot so that could shake up the players to leave. I’m a little bit of a Marseille fan when it comes to Ligue 1 and I like Civella – he’s definitely a no nonsense Brazilian defender though he does have a hot head. Wenger looks like he may get Vermaelen from Ajax though – he’s not bad actually and reportedly available for 7.5M – not a bad price.

If Song plays CB in our final game he will be the new CB signing. Say I told you so.

Ade will probably go, so the two new signings will be a striker and a DM. Dzeko would probably fit the bill or Real may be ready to ditch Huntelaar with the return of Van Nistelroy. Would love to see a Cana type player come in at DM.

Hey Tim, this top ten list is fantastic. I cant think of any better, you did a great job with some excellent commentary. Anybody who signs Raul Albiol will be getting a steal, he is one of the best young players I have seen in a while, right up there with Rooney and Ronaldo of a few years ago. You can post this to our site http://www.toptentopten.com/ and link back to your site. We are trying to create a directory for top ten lists where people can find your site. The coolest feature is you can let other people vote on the rankings of your list.

Re: Song as our new CB signing I want to say this: Carlos Gamarra, paraguayan CB, one of the best at is prime (Inter, AEK, 98 World CUP) started as a MF. So did our current national team’s CB Julio Caceres (Olimpia vs. Real Madrid 2002, currently Boca Jrs). It seems to give CBs another insight into the game, a more secure approach and reading of the game. Maybe that spot will be Song’s, eventually. With Denilson as our DM.

It’s hard to get work permits for them. They have to be exceptional players, have played a certain number of games for their national teams and jump through a bunch of hoops the get them in. It took Arsenal 3 years to get Carlos Vela into England – they had to loan him out to Spanish clubs for several years first.

Alex
3 years for a work permit?! That’s insane. I thought we were 3rd world-ers. LOL. I just think it’s unfair that the bartons and kevin davies get the chance to play on the most important league and yet a ton of gifted players over here don’t.

Maybe Vela’s case was due to the fact that he was U18? Take Roque Santacruz(our national pride, that’s for you international haters). The operation between Bayern and Blackburn didn’t take forever to complete. But then again it was ’cause he was playing in Europe already.